The group that created this ship would have been composed of males, as a job such as building a ship would have been seen as unfit for women at the time. The men who created it would have been sailors most likely, and would have been middle-class (known as karls) in terms of social status. The men who created the ship were fairly skilled, as it is a well-built ship, and has elaborate decorations on the bow and stern, in a fashion that was very common at the time. The women who were buried in the ship were upper-class citizens (known as jarls), which is evident from their clothes, which were composed of fine wool, and fine white linen.

At the time the Oseberg ship was built (around 820 A.D.), the Vikings were invading England, though it is unlikely that this particular ship ever saw England, as, while it was seaworthy, it was quite fragile, and much better suited for coastal expeditions. At the same time, Viking tribes were beginning to come together and form larger kingdoms, so social life was likely quite disorganized for a time.

Obviously, the creators’ purpose here was, first and foremost, to make a seaworthy ship, for coastal expeditions, rather than long voyages. It could achieve speeds of up to 10 knots, thanks to 15 oar holes, and a 90m2 sail.